In the "Ask Linda" columns I answer questions from readers who are uncertain how to proceed correctly under the Rules of Golf. No names are used – all questioners are referred to as Lulu (or Lou, in the case of male writers), in honor of the smart and sassy comic character.
Please send questions from your personal golf experiences to: llmillergolf@gmail.com.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Ask Linda #1329-Player takes abnormal stance to get relief

Hi Linda,

Question: A player is right-handed. There is no interference
with the normal right hand swing. The player takes a left-handed swing stance
and the object now interferes. Can they take relief for the left-handed stance
swing, and once relief is granted, change back to the right-handed swing?

This did not happen; a couple of my golfing buddies and I
are dissecting the rules and came up with this question.

Thanks in advance,

Lou from Atlanta, Georgia

Dear Lou,

No. A player is not entitled to claim relief for an abnormal
swing that is clearly unreasonable [Rule 24-2b, Exception; Decision 24-2b/18].
For example, if a player’s ball lies in a rough patch of grass near a bench,
and there is no interference from the bench for his right-handed swing, he may
not turn around and state that he plans to hit it left-handed in order to claim
interference from the bench and drop in a more favorable lie.

Here is an example of free relief for an abnormal swing that
would be reasonable:

A right-handed player’s ball is close to a boundary fence on
the left. In order to hit the ball toward the hole, he must turn around and hit
left-handed. An immovable obstruction interferes with the abnormal butreasonable
left-handed stroke. The player is entitled to relief from the obstruction.
After he drops, if he is now able to turn around and hit right-handed, he may
do so [Decision 24-2b/17].